Seven decades after Australia and New Zealand last did battle for the ‘Soccer Ashes’, the Socceroos have claimed trans-Tasman bragging rights – and a trophy recently rediscovered after vanishing for 70 years – courtesy of a dominant 2-0 win in London.

Mitchell Duke struck first with a half-volley amid Harry Souttar’s claims that the goal belonged to him after a slight deflection, before Jackson Irvine came off the bench to head home a Martin Boyle corner in the final 15 minutes.

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Having gone winless in their last three fixtures – all coming against sides ranked in the world’s top 15 places – the Socceroos enjoyed a far more comfortable outing against the 104th-ranked All Whites.

Graham Arnold named a somewhat new-look Socceroos team, featuring a debut for 20-year-old defender Alessandro Circati and a first appearance since 2019 for Massimo Luongo, but watched on as his green and gold troops dominated for large periods against New Zealand.

The Socceroos produced plenty of chances while New Zealand failed to have a shot on target as Australia secured the Soccer Ashes trophy in front of 5,761 fans at the home of Premier League club Brentford.

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The marvellous trophy – dating back to 1923 and contested by the nations for three decades – was lost in the mid-1950s and subsequently faded from history, only to be discovered this year in the garage of a late Australian football administrator.

The trophy itself includes the ashes of cigars smoked by the captains of the two nations after the first series played in Australia in 1923, enclosed in a silver-plated razor case that one Australian official had taken to the Gallipoli landing in 1915.

The silver case is placed inside a wooden casket made from New Zealand and Australian wood, decorated with a motif of a kangaroo and silver fern.

After the surprise rediscovery earlier this year – just months after the teams faced off last September to celebrate the centenary of the rivals’ first meeting– the ANZAC Soccer Ashes will now remain on Australian soil.

The Socceroos now look forward to the beginning of their qualification campaign for the 2026 World Cup, with Bangladesh first up next month in Melbourne before more group stage matches against Palestine and Lebanon.January’s Asian Cup also looms as a major opportunity for the Socceroos, who haven’t lifted the trophy since a maiden crown on home soil in 2015.

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Socceroos coach Graham Arnold named a much-changed line-up, with five changes to the side that featured against England at Wembley.

Youngster Jordan Bos started on the left flank in a more attacking role than his traditional fullback position. He was joined by 20-year-old centre-back Alessandro Circati, making his highly-anticipated debut for the green and gold after Australia beat Italy in the race for his international allegiance.

Massimo Luongo started in midfield in his first Socceroos appearance since 2019. And there was also a maiden start for right-back Lewis Miller, who debuted off the bench against England.

The crowd might only have been a fraction of the 80-something-thousand that packed into Wembley last Friday night for that England blockbuster, but that had little impact on the product on display, with both teams coming out firing in an end-to-end start.

And it was New Zealand who started the match the brighter of the two sides, settling well on the ball and pressing Australia with great intensity.

But Australia weathered the early blitz and struck the first blow against the run of play.

In the 14th minute, a free-kick was recycled by the Australians and crossed back into the area from deep on the left flank. It found the head of debutant Alessandro Cricati at the back post, who played it back into the middle of the goalmouth.

Mitch Duke charged onto the ball and leathered it goalwards from barely six yards out. He could hardly miss such a gilt-edged chance – but his shot took the slightest of deflections off the chest of centre-back Harry Souttar, standing directly beside Duke.

Despite Duke and Souttar being awarded the goal during the game, it was the former who was officially on the scoresheet.

New Zealand’s bright start evaporated quickly as Australia rode a wave of momentum after the goal, pouring forward and creating a host of bright chances. In the 21st minute, Duke had a second brilliant chance to score when he got on the end of a fizzed low cross at the front post, only to fluff his lines and lose possession.

But the Socceroos were stretching the All Whites’ defence, camping for extended periods inside the New Zealand half.

And youngster Jordan Bos – playing in a more advanced role on the left wing than his usual defensive assignment – was the next to threaten when he cut in from the left flank and unleashed a shot that drew a fine save from New Zealand gloveman Michael Woud.

The Aussies were pounding at the gates, bombing balls into the box time and again and flooding forward at pace after every turnover.

And in the 36th minute, Australia had yet another golden opportunity when Martin Boyle slammed home a cross from close-range – only for it to be called back for offside.

At half-time, Lewis Miller was replaced at right-back by Ryan Strain, who impressed on his first start against England. And the Socceroos came out of the break far more strongly than they began the first half, controlling possession from the first whistle.

Connor Metcalfe came close to doubling the lead in the 52nd minute when he danced into the box and drew a strong save by Woud, who made an even better block just a couple of minutes later to deny Martin Boyle one-on-one. Metcalfe had turned provider, feeding his teammate with a pinpoint through ball that picked apart the New Zealand defence.

The Socceroos were attacking wave after wave, and a second goal felt like a matter of time – but New Zealand nearly found an equaliser in the 63rd minute through a thunderous Bill Tuiloma free-kick from straight in front, the defender smacking his effort against the cross-bar.

Bos, Duke, and Luongo were each replaced in the 66th minute for Craig Goodwin, Jackson Irvine and Brandon Borrello.

New Zealand responded by introducing lively winger Joey Champness, formerly of the A-Leagues but perhaps better known for his forays into rapping.

Goodwin nearly made an immediate impact, weaving around a trio of defenders into the left side of the box before having his shot blocked. It looped up to Strain who, with his first touch of the match, could only flash his shot wide.

New Zealand made a pair of more substitutions in Ben Waine and Niko Kirwan, but it was Australia who continued to dominate the match as time wore down.

Samuel Silvera came off the bench for just his second Socceroos appearance, while Aiden O’Neill rounded out the substitutions.

Despite all their dominance and attacking threat, the Socceroos were still lacking a clinical touch in front of goal – something that has been a recurring problem in recent matches, including against England.

That was never more the case than when substitute Brandon Borrello produced a shocking miss in the closing minutes, poking a cross wide at the back post with an open goal at his mercy.

Nevertheless, there were plenty of promising signs for Australia, particularly their defensive solidity despite fielding a fresh back-line.

Debutant Alessandro Circati impressed while Harry Souttar was again excellent in the heart of defence, while fellow young gun Jordy Bos showed his versatility in a fine display at a more attacking left-wing role.

Massimo Luongo will be well pleased with his showing after a four-year absence from the international stage, while there was hardly a poor performer among the Australian line-up.